Author Topic: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.  (Read 21916 times)

Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #240 on: April 11, 2021, 12:49:36 AM »
Running a count of clicks on the star adjuster is a baseline.

Turn it till it stops the drum from turning, then back it off till you have a little drag.

Over.
Thanks Johnny.
And then backing the truck up and hitting the breaks, sets the adjuster lever, correct?


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Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #241 on: April 11, 2021, 01:03:01 AM »
Correct


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1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #242 on: April 11, 2021, 06:29:59 AM »
You PM'd me a question about a spacer? Are you all set now? Here's a picture if it helps

*updated picture
« Last Edit: April 11, 2021, 10:26:57 AM by VileZambonie »
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Offline MIKE S

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #243 on: April 11, 2021, 10:08:27 AM »
That picture for him might be a little confusing for him as it is for the later models that use a key in the adjuster nut with a snap ring. 

That’s a better picture ;)
« Last Edit: April 11, 2021, 02:07:28 PM by MIKE S »

Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #244 on: April 11, 2021, 10:17:44 AM »
Thanks Vile and Mike.
Vile, at the time of my message, I was unaware of how to proceed with only having one spacer (that being on the drivers side.)

The spacer I was speaking of is the top ring in the photo attached.

Since my message, we agreed here in the thread that I can proceed without it for now just to get the truck going, but that a spacer should be procured in the near future for the passenger side.




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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #245 on: April 11, 2021, 10:45:28 AM »
Are you saying you are missing the thrust washer #6?
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Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #246 on: April 11, 2021, 12:01:39 PM »
Are you saying you are missing the thrust washer #6?
I believe so, yes.
The part just behind the inner lock nut.


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Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #247 on: April 11, 2021, 12:17:23 PM »
Okay.
Lifted and adjusted.
Too much hassle to work through the wheel, so I took those off and tightened the adjuster until I couldn’t move the drum freely.

I don’t hear clicks when I back off, so I backed off about 3/4 of a full rotation of the star adjuster itself.

I just turned the truck on to test the pressure in the brake pedal and it has significantly improved. Yet, not as tight as I would like it.

Should I,
A) tighten the adjust until I get my desired pressure on the pedal?

B) try bleeding the brakes again while the engine is running?


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Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #248 on: April 11, 2021, 05:38:36 PM »
Okay.

I did both things I questioned earlier.

Good news- I have brakes.
Bad news- they squeak if I hit em hard.

Gonna back off the adjuster a bit and try again.


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Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #249 on: April 11, 2021, 06:13:56 PM »
Your shoes will need to wear in too.

Are you sure it's not your front brakes?

Disc brakes are more prone to squeak than rear drum brakes...
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Spool

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Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #250 on: April 11, 2021, 07:22:37 PM »
My disc brakes don’t make a peep. If anything it’s like a tiny little whistle when I come to a complete stop.

The drum brakes:
I kept doing test runs, where I would reverse and hit the brakes hard to see if it squeaked. Once I did that, they were more prone to squeak on normal stops. Is this a result of the adjuster over adjusting when I hit the brakes hard in reverse?

I took it home, lifted it, backed off the adjuster and repeated this process. Each time, the brakes were great, until I applied too much brake to stop on a dime, in which, they would be more prone squeak.

I repeated this until my brake pedal became too spongy for my liking. So I lifted it again and advanced the star adjuster about twenty clicks. Now, I have a nice brake pressure and I’m currently driving around a bit without doing the hard brake test that makes it prone to squeak. It brakes great, for now.

I also feel like the drums are indeed not round. I may be hearing things, or convincing myself or hearing things, but I feel like I can hear when the uneven part of the drum connects to a certain part of the shoes when braking slowly.

Any thoughts?

Edit** My jerky transmission shifting in/out of R/N/D has seemed to subside today.


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« Last Edit: April 11, 2021, 08:20:54 PM by Spool »

Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #251 on: April 13, 2021, 05:22:57 PM »
Hey guys.

It's been three days and the truck still has brakes. Success.
Wanted to touch base about my thoughts of how the brakes feel a bit spongy. I may advance the star a bit more.

Wanted to follow up though about the potential squeakiness, because I know that if I hit the brakes hard, they will begin squeaking again.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #252 on: April 13, 2021, 06:20:37 PM »
When you get your spacer and install it, take a look at the drums to see if there is any metal on metal contact.

It would be weird, but the original mechanic thought he needed to 'turn' them, maybe that was why.

Or if you haven't trashed your old ones, look at them for the same sign.

If there is none, look at how your shoes are wearing. High spots? Or broad and even?

In theory, there should be no metal to metal contact, just brake shoe to iron, which under normal circumstances is quiet.

 
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #253 on: April 13, 2021, 06:45:34 PM »
Without going back through, did you replace the drums?
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              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Spool

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Re: Squeaky Drum Brakes & A Terrible Mechanic.
« Reply #254 on: April 13, 2021, 06:55:11 PM »
Interesting, Johnny. I’ll see to ordering that spacer tonight if possible to find. Mike had identified the part number for me earlier but mentioned they were hard to come by with the exception of buying a bag of them at once on eBay.

Vile, I kept the drums for now, but as mentioned before, I feel like I can hear the unevenness in it when I turn it.


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